Bhakti List Archives

PeriyAzhwAr Thirunakshthram ( Birth Day) Celebration at Sri RanganAthA Temple, Pomona , NY: June 30, 2001 , Part II: Summary of Paasurams from 223-473 by decads

From the Bhakti List Archives

Sadagopan • Sun Jul 01 2001 - 02:34:12 PDT 


Dear BhakthAs :

Yesterday was a glorious day . In the middle of 
the MandalAbhishEkam ( 45 days of special abhishEkams 
/sacred baths for Lord RanganAthA and Moorthys )at 
the 8 Sannidhis ( Sri RanganAthan ,Sri RanganAyaki, 
Andaal , VeNugOpAlan, Lakshmi Narasimhan , SitA LakshmaNa
samEtha Raamachandran , SrinivAsan and Garudan )of 
the Temple , PeriyAzhwAr's birhtday was celebrated
in the most traditional manner.

All the eight ArchakAs , experts in the different 
aspects PaancharAthrA aagamic worship were there .
Five of them will be returning to India at the end
of the MandalAbhishEkam . Since Lord RanganAthA 
and the PerumALs at the other Sannidhis are the prime
focus of worship during the 45 days following 
the grand consecration of this new temple, we did
not recite the individual pasurams of PeriyAzhwAr 
except ThiruppalllANDu . We had traditonal AarAdhanam 
followed by Koil Thirumozhi and grand SaathupuRai.
It took nearly three hours. 

PeriyAzhwAr received special honors from his 
son-in-law , Lord RanganAthan . Nearly 200 BhakthAs
took part in the different stages of the function and 
received MahA PrasAdham .

The Temple is making progress in coping with 
the special expenses relating to the May 23-27 
MahA SamprOkshaNam and the PrumALs and ThAyArs
are reciving thrikAla AarAdhanam every day.

We need the help of lot of BhakthAs from near
and far to perform Tulasi , Flowers , anna dhAnam
PoojA SaamagriyA ( Material for Daily worship )
kaimkaryams (services). Sponsorships of $108 
per family would help us a grat deal to plan
and excute the traditonal activities with rigor
in the same manner as at Srirangam , Kaanchi and
Thirumalai Temples. 

The sponsors name will be recognized through
special archanais on the day of their choice 
(birth days, wedding anniversaries , other 
commemorative days ). You are most elcome to donate 
more, since the temple will need maximum support form 
all aasthikAs especially in the first year of operation.

The grand Ranga Mantapam is there for you to use for 
special meetings and celebrations at the temple. 
Highly qualified Priests are available for performing
Vaidhika Kaaryams( Upanayanam , KalyANam , Sathya
NaarAYaNa Pooja , Sudarsana Homam et al ). Please make
use of their presence in the country .

I will write about two specific items next:

1. Remaing PeriyAzhwAr Paasurams Summary

2. MahA samprOkshaNam rites that took place.
   Many of you, who attended the celebrations
   saw a lot of very special ceremonies :

2.1: First day:
   Sankalpam , anugani , VishvasEna AarAdhanam ,
   MruthsangrahaNam , AnkurArpaNam , Paalikaa PoojA,
   Soma Kumbha PoojA , Agni PrathishtA on the first day .
  
2.2: Second Day Morning:
    YaagsAlA DhvAra PoojA , ManOnmana Saanthi Homam ,
    Panchakavya SammELanam , Aalaya Suddhi , Vaasthu
    Saanthi , Raksha Bhandanam , JalAdhivAsam ,
    SayanAdhi Vaasam , MahA Kumbha Mandala Poojai

2.3: Second day Evening:
     Jatee Bhandham , Bhagavadh BhimbhAradhanam,
     Nithya Homam , PoorNAhUthi , Saptha Kalasa
     SthApanam .

2.4:  Third day:
      ChathusthAana archana , Homam , VimAna Kaaryam
      PoorNAhUthi

2.5:  Fourth day:
      YaagasAlai PoojA , MahA SamprOkshaNam ,
 
I have sat with one of the authorities of 
Paancha Raathra Aagma from Kanchipuram 
Sri VaradarAjA temple and tried to understand
the complex rites relating to MahA SamprOkshaNam.
He has been very kind to share with me what took him 
many years of study and practise performing such rites.
He is quite eager fo all the BhakthAs to understand
these ancient traditions that are PerumAL's own
instructions over five nights ( Paancha Raathra Aagama). 

All the mistakes in summarizing these ancient and
complex rites defended by AchArya RaamAnujA ,
Swamy Desikan in the context of Temple worship
will be mine and all the credits should go to
my Teacher , Sri Kanchi VaradarAja Bhattar.

I will cover the different features you saw 
at the outdoor YaagasAlAs ( Square , Circular
and the ardha Chandhra agni Kuntams , where
the Homams were performed , the raised platform 
serving as the seat of Nava Padhma MaNtapam as
sanctioned by Paadhma samhithai )and explain 
their significance . BhagavAn is manthra Roopi
and He is approachable through Veda manthrAs 
and Aagamic rites . Instead of making ourselves
experts in conducting these ancient MahA SamprOkshaNam
rites , I will attempt to give the high lights 
of this grand ceremony . It has been siad that 
particpating in one MahA samprOkshaNam is 
Janma Saapalyam ( the fulfilment of One's birth).

I need your support for all these kaimkaryams 
at the temple to keep this temple as an unique
and authentic center of worship for all bhakthAs 
to visit,use and support . 

Please become abhimAnis/Benefactors/Life Members 
of the Lord RanganAthA Temple .

May Sriman NaarAyaNA"s blessings be with you all always,
Oppiliappan Koil V.Sadagopan 

P.S : I will continue with the Paasdurams of PeriyAzhwAr 
in a subsequent postings .
  


  

    


 


--------------------------------------------------------------
           - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
To Post a message, send it to:   bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com
Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/